Laveratt Pushes Proclamations As Last Meeting As Mayor Ends

OAKLAND PARK -- Ex-Mayor Mary Laveratt`s term as one of the city`s most controversial political figures ended with a spark.

Moments before her final meeting as mayor adjourned, Laveratt made a last- ditch effort to read a list of proclamations, some of which reflected her anti-abortion sentiments, without council approval.

The council passed a resolution last year that prohibits the mayor from issuing proclamations without council approval.

Council member James Loss moved to adjourn the meeting before Laveratt was able to read any of the proclamations. Incoming Mayor H. Keneth Powell promptly seconded the motion and Laveratt`s term in office ended. Laveratt, however, stepped from the dais for the last time unruffled.

``I kept every promise I made,`` Laveratt said before relinquishing her office to Powell. ``I look forward, of course, to being very active even though it will be from the other side of the desk.``

Lavaratt said she sent out the proclamations anyway.

``I`ve issued them as a mayor without either (city seal or council approval). They are absolutely valid.``

Included in her list of 12 unapproved proclamations were two to city schools, Northeast High School and Oakland Park Elementary; one to the Bicentennial Commission in Washington, D.C.; one to the National Office of the Pro-Life Nurses; and several to local civic and community organizations.

One of the proclamations declared March 18 and ``every day thereafter`` Sanctity of Human Life Day.

Laveratt recently filed a federal lawsuit against the city and her council colleagues, claiming they conspired to violate her constitutional rights as mayor by denying her the opportunity to issue an anti-abortion proclamation.

Laveratt gave six of the proclamations to City Manager J. Scott Miller on March 12 and six more to him on Wednesday with a memo requesting they be distributed to the city clerk as part of the files.

``They have absolutely no meaning,`` Powell said. ``She can do whatever she wants to. It`s her usual way of doing things. She follows no rules of doing things, including her own. She was trying to get them read into the record.``

Powell said he has already contacted school officials about the bogus proclamations.